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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. A. SOURIAU HYDROSTATIO DISAPPEARING TURRBT 0R SHIELD. No. 431,922. Patented July 8, 1890.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. A. SOURIAU HYDROSTATIO DISAPPEARING TURRET 0R SHIELD.

No. 431,922. Patented July 8, 1890.

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FRANCOIS AUGUSTE SOURIAU, OF LIMOGES, FRANCE.

HYDROSTATIC DISAPPEARING TU-RRET OR SHIELD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 431,922, dated July 8, 1890.

Application filed June 3, 1887.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANQOIS AUGUSTE SOURIAU, of Limoges, (Haute-Vienne,) in the Republic of France, have invented a Hydrostatic Disappearing Turret or Shield, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a disappearing turret or shield suitable for fortified places, coast defenses, and ships of war. This turret is supported in a state of equilibrium upon a plunger immersed in liquid, as hereinafter described, whereby the effect of the weight is neutralized and the turret is enabled to be moved vertically by such force as can be readily applied by manual labor without the aid of motive-power engines. The turret itself may be constructed with or without a cover or roof, and its sides or walls may extend over a portion only of its circumference, thus reducing it to a shield. I

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a vertical section of a turret according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a modification.

A turret T rests upon a plunger 1 by the intervention of supports S S. The plungerP is completely immersed in the liquid contained in a tank 0, situated in the axis of the turret and in a well or cavity formed by a deepening or extension of the pit in which the turret is worked. The supports S S pass through a floor B A B. This floor is formed by an external crown or ring 13, completely fixed, and a part A, which is capable of rotating, but does not move vertically. The plunger is guided at its lower end by a pivot L, and the turret is guided or supported laterally at G. The plunger Pisa closed airtight vessel, and, being suitably calculated in such a manner that its volume complies with the condition that the weight of all the movable part is balanced by the pressure of the liquid upon the said plunger, it will be readily understood that the force required to move the turret vertically depends solely on the amplitude of this movement and the time employed, or, in other terms, on the speed to be imparted to the entire system and on the resistance oifered by the liquid in proportion to the surface immersed. It has been ascertained by calculation that in practice the force to be exerted in this way is not greater derial No. 240,175. (No model.)

than what can be produced by men working at a simple mechanism consisting of cranks and toothed gearing suitably arranged. In order to produce this vertical or rising-andfalling motion, which constitutes the disappearing action, it suffices to arrange upon the platform A a Windlass acting on a chain, one extremity of which is attached to the turret, the other extremity being attached to the plunger. By winding up the chain in one direction or the other the turret may be raised or lowered. Any other suitable mechanical device may be employed, if preferred. The turret likewise requires to partake of an angular motion-that is to say, of a rotary motion upon its vertical axis. Vith this object a circular rack F maybe provided in the movable floor A in such a manner that a suitable arrangement of gearing on the fixed part B of the flooring enables the required rotary motion to be produced. The number of men required to work the disappearing turret may be still further reduced by using a supplementary plunger, which is alternately immersed and lifted out of the liquid and serves to produce the alternate rising-and-falling motion of the turret. This arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, which differs from Fig.1 in the following points only, viz: First, the four columns which connect the turret with the plunger are replaced by acylinder D, of sheet metal, cut away at the base in such a manner as to enable it to pass readily through the movable floor A, and, second, the plunger is of annular form or hollow at the center.

The additional or supplementary plunger consists of a cylindrical water-tight crown E, placed upon the main plunger. This crown is made of a height equal to the vertical movement of the turret, and is immersed in liquid exactly to the top when the turret is down,its bottom being exactly level with the surface of the liquid when the turret is fully elevated. This plunger is divided horizontally into two equal partsm and n. This part on is made as light as possible, and its volume is so calculated that when immersed it exerts a sufficient upward pressure to set the turret in motion with the required speed. This pressure gradually decreases and finally ceases when the turret is half-way up; but by this time the turret has acquired sufficient ms viva to carry it through the other half of its half of the ascent the weight n, being by degrees drawn out of the water, will gradually counterbalance and overcome the 'v'is 'vi'va of the turret, its action being exactly similar to that of the part m, but exerted in the opposite direction. After the turret has reached the limit of its ascending motion the relative actions of the parts m and n are reversed. The part it tends to move the turret downward and forces it through the first half of its descent, wherein the turret acquires a certain momentum, or Ms m'zza, which it expends in pushing the part downward into the water. These movements would be repeated indefinitely but forthe resistance of the friction. The parts m and n, acting with a regularly increasing or decreasing force,their maximum forcemust be double the constant force which would be required to produce the same result. This additional plunger thus overcomes the resistance due to inertia, and the men are simply required to overcome the resistance due to the friction of the various parts. It is sufficient, in short, to keep the turret in its lowest position when the tank is filled for the first time. The crown is then completelyimmersed. Then in this position and at rest, the turret is held down against the pressure of the plunger by means of two vertical grippers 1', provided with a catch or detent, and which engage automatically with two rings 0, attachedto the floor A, the weight of the lat ter being sufficient to overcome the tendency of the plunger to lift the turret. To maintain the turret in the elevated position, two other grippers, similar to the grippers i, are employed, which engage with or rest upon two posts K, fixed to the floor A. To work the turret in a continuous manner, the arms of both sets of grippers must be secured or held out of action. To cause the turret to stop in one position only, the grippers corresponding to the other position only must be held outof action. The crown is simply placed upon the plunger, but is attached to the cylinder. If at any time it should be desired to separate the crown from the plunger, it is simply necessary to raise the turret, and when in this position to attach the crown to the floor A by means of chains and rings and to take out the screws which connect it to the cylinder.

It is evident that the form or shape of the plungers may be modified, and that the mechanism employed to effect the various movements connected with the disappearing and directing may be differently arranged without affecting the principle of the invention.

I am aware that it has been proposed to mount a cannon and its carriage or support upon a vertically-movable air or gas holder submerged in a pitof water or other1iquid,with means for moving the holderto different levels in the water; but in such case the air or gas holder was to be open at the bottom, so that the air or gas would be in physical contact with the liquid. In my apparatus I employ a closed air-tight plunger, operating as a counter-balance by displacement.

I claim as my invention 1. A disappearing defensive turret or shield,

combined with a tank of liquid, and a closed air-tight plunger whollyimmersed in the liquid and supporting the said turret or shield, substantially as described.

2. A disappearing defensive turret or shield, combined with a tank of liquid and a floating plunger therein, supports connecting the said turret and plunger, and a floor, part fixed and part rotary, through which thesupports pass, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCOIS AUGUSTE SOURIAU.

Witnesses:

ALPHONSE LOUIS GOURIER, LIvoU GITAUD. 

